Figarelle's Fitnesshttp://figarellesfitness.com
Private and Group TrainingTue, 13 Feb 2018 15:07:53 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4Marie is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/marie-months-ff-member-month/
Tue, 13 Feb 2018 12:29:31 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3729Hi Marie! Please introduce yourself. Hello! My name is Marie-Luise. I am a born and raised Alaskan. I find this state we call home to be truly a magical place. I am married to Carson. We eloped on a ferry in Seattle 10 weeks after meeting. Our bond was forged over our love for open […]

Hello! My name is Marie-Luise. I am a born and raised Alaskan. I find this state we call home to be truly a magical place. I am married to Carson. We eloped on a ferry in Seattle 10 weeks after meeting. Our bond was forged over our love for open mic comedy and Koots.

I’ve been working in finance, and related, roles for the last few years. The quest of figuring out ‘what I want to be when I grow up’ is on-going.

How long have you been working with FF and what motivated you to seek us out?

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I started with Figarelle’s boot camp just over 4 years ago, per the recommendation of a friend. She really sold me on giving it a try, even though boot camp sounded like something way out of my comfort zone.

At that point in my life I was hardly doing any type of physical activity. I had signed up for various gym memberships over the years without much success. I dabbled in some pilates and yoga for a while, but nothing stuck. I knew I needed to work out, like we all know, but realistically I didn’t see myself being a person who consistently worked out when I looked into my future.

I remember my first boot camp – it was a Saturday. It took me down. I went home afterwards and went straight to bed without showering and took a four-hour nap. I could not wrap my mind around how people were doing this type of activity multiple times a week and functioning.

At that point in my life I was not prioritizing self-care. My eating habits were all over the map, I was not taking sleep seriously, and I was running myself ragged with going from one activity to the next. I had the blues and didn’t how to tell them to go kick rocks.

The FF class gave me such a high. I knew I wanted to be a part of the FF community. Over the years no matter what mood I arrived at class with, I left smiling and feeling positive.

FF worked for me because I was held accountable for showing up and committing to myself and the group. Turns out this was much easier than I had previously thought.

Going to the gym became something I looked forward to rather than something I would find any excuse to get out of. Being surrounded by people who are consistently working on bettering themselves was an inspiration that kept me coming back.

The fact that I have regularly gone to a gym for the last 4 years is something still mind-blowing to me considering my past self!

You’ve been regularly attending Small Group with us the past 3 months. What are a few things you’ve learned since starting this new program?

I was a tad nervous to begin Small Group, as I didn’t know much about strength training. Turns out, I think I am thriving much more in the Small Group environment compared to Boot Camp. I very much enjoyed the high intensity of Boot Camp, but appreciate the formula driven aspect of Small Group.

Learning the details about lifts and spending time practicing how to master them gives me a sense of accomplishment and forward progress.

I am also learning the ‘why’ behind each lift – why we are we doing each one and what the point is. Mentally, this feels better for me, because there is a logical pattern and I can understand the greater objective.

I’ve learned how to walk into any gym and work out in a productive manner on my own. No more gym intimidation.

It’s true – everything really is better when you’re stronger.

What are a few of your favorite exercises? How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to work?

A few of my favorite exercises are the trap-bar deadlift, BB deadlift, BB & goblet squats, cable squat to row, lunges, tricep extensions, and DB chest press. I’m learning to love the BB bench press as I do it more. This one was very intimidating at first.

I like working my core and lower body. A strong core really eliminates a lot of pain – like back pain – and forces me to have good posture. I like the feeling of being able to, plain and simple, move faster. Hiking is one of my all-time favorite activities and strong legs are a powerful asset.

When we were still at Boot Camp, my favorite days were when we did hurricanes. I liked the shorter bursts and how we were kept moving along quickly together – almost like a dance.

What is your ideal way to relax and unwind?

I love going to restaurants with family and friends – particularly busy restaurants. I like the energy of the environment and I find that when you’re sitting there, you can exist just in that moment and enjoy the company. No other tasks nagging you. It’s a definite mood booster for me.

Aside from that I love going on walks with our terror squad – Patton and Kinley. It’s comical to watch them run through the trees and have a good time.

To unwind, I like to create a quiet environment at the house and embrace the silence.

We know eating healthy is very important to you. Can you run us through a typical day of how you plan your nutrition?

A typical day starts with a protein shake and about half a cup of homemade müsli (consisting of oats, sliced almonds, unsweetened raisins, and unsweetened coconut flakes) topped with unsweetened coconut milk and blackberries.

I usually have a protein bar as a snack between breakfast and lunch.

Lunch is typically dinner leftovers. We like to cook large batches of food for dinner.

The next snack is usually an apple with powdered peanut butter or carrots/rice crackers and goat cheese. I always buy fruit at the store and have it handy – bananas, kiwis, raspberries, blueberries, etc. I love fruit.

Carson and I are big meat eaters – ground beef, thin pork chops, chicken, sausage. Dinner is focused around a meat and vegetables. A few staple vegetables I keep on hand are spinach (for sautéing), broccoli, zucchini, and asparagus. These are easy to throw in the pan or oven. We are all about simple, quick meals. With this, I’ll throw in some sweet potatoes, rice, or spaghetti squash, for example.

Lately, I’ve been baking a large batch of sweet potatoes on the weekend so I can easily add some to any meal during the week. At lunch, it’s easy to come home, fry up two eggs, sauté some spinach, and heat up some sweet potatoes. Luckily, I work close enough that I can come home every day.

One thing that was hindering me in years past, was my lack of eating protein. I was constantly dragging. I’ve been significantly more alert since I’ve been cognizant of my protein intake.

We do also like to snack on things like corn chips and salsa, popcorn, fruit, nuts, and goat cheese on anything.

With all this being said, I do love to go to restaurants – but I’m particular on which restaurants I’ll go to and usually make modifications to meals I order.

The level of discipline he has is something else. Carson and I lead independent lives, but we love to come together at the end of the day and fill each other in on the day’s happenings. We are constantly throwing around ideas and strategizing our next moves in this chess game of life.

What are a few things you’ve accomplished over the past year that you’re most proud of?

I quit my job last January and went to Germany for two months. The majority of my family is in Germany and it had been six years since I’d been back. We would travel there every couple of years growing up, but the relationships I had with my cousins, aunts, and uncles was all driven through my parents. I wanted to go over there and strengthen those relationships through myself and spend time in a country I absolutely love. I am so happy I took the time to bolster those relationships, as these will be there for life.

I’m proud I dove in and made the switch to strength training. As a follow-up to question number two above, I never thought I’d be into weight lifting. A whole new world has opened up to me.

What advice would you give someone who is looking to get fit but may not know where to start?

Learn about macros and track your food at least once for a period of two weeks or so. This was a hugely positive learning experience for me. You gain such an understanding of food and learn to ‘see’ macros in any food you look at. Once you see macros, you can’t un-see them.

Eat real simple, real food. Always, always, look at the nutritional label and ingredients. Avoid added sugar like the plague. It’s shocking how much sugar is tucked away in the lion’s share of food out there. Sugar used to be a luxury in centuries past and now we can’t buy a fruit juice without tablespoons of added sugar. On a positive note – I’ve found if you stop eating it, you stop craving it.

As far as working out – just start! Stop thinking and just do it! Start with something and you’ll begin the journey to finding which type of exercise works best for you. I wasted a lot of time over-analyzing what to do. Gentle persistence.

Again – everything really is better when you’re stronger.

What new goals are you most excited about pursuing in 2018?

My focus is on mastering form. I have been reading Mark Rippetoe’s book Starting Strength and learning about the basic lifts, per Lela and Steph’s recommendation.

I’ve been surprised at how simple each lift is described and broken down, and how easy it’s been to implement. It’s fascinating how making slight adjustments in your stance/posture/pull, etc. can transfer the weight completely in your body, giving you more power.

I’d like to BB squat my body weight. I just learned how to BB squat in recent months and believe this would be an encouraging mental hurdle to accomplish!

Hiking every week this summer is also a goal of mine – this Alaskan nature is too good not to take advantage of!

]]>Charlie is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/charlie-months-ff-member-month/
Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:15:58 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3726Hi Charlie! Please tell us about yourself. I am a single parent of 4 wonderful kids, and owner/operator of a small business. I am 51 years old, and I love Alaska. I’ve lived here since 6th grade. I love all the seasons that Alaska brings, hiking in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter. I […]

I am a single parent of 4 wonderful kids, and owner/operator of a small business. I am 51 years old, and I love Alaska. I’ve lived here since 6th grade.

I love all the seasons that Alaska brings, hiking in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter. I have a passion for old recreational track driven machines that run on snow and make a lot of smoke and noise. I enjoy racing vintage snow machines when I have time.

How long have you been working with us and what motivated you to seek us out?

I started working out with Figarelle’s Fitness in March 2017, doing Boot Camp. I used to do a boot camp at The Dome, but the instructor moved and I was not working out for over a year. That instructor recommended Figarelle’s Fitness, and that’s how I got involved.

What are a few of your favorite things about training with us?

I really enjoy showing up and having everything planned out for us. My life is quite busy, and requires a lot of mental energy. It is nice to just show up and have a plan already in place. Turn key. Where you just show up ready to work out, put your nose to the grindstone and not have to think about much.

My job can be rather time consuming, so I enjoy when I don’t have to think much.

At Figarelle’s Fitness, I have learned much about stretching, foam rolling, breathing, and proper form.

Do you have any tips for those who are busy with work and family, but would still like to find time to workout?

When I started working out at Figarelle’s, it was difficult to get up early and make it there on time. My mind would tell me one excuse after another why I should not have to go to the gym that morning when my alarm would go off at 4:45AM. It was a battle.

Then I just told myself to “just do it” like the Nike logo. After a couple of weeks the argument in my mind was settled. I was at peace with showing up very early, and the work outs were easier to handle.

At first the work outs were quite intense, I could imagine a million other places I would rather be at that moment. I kept one eye on the bathroom door or the exit door in case I thought I was going to puke. But I never did, and things got easier rather quickly.

I knew no one at the gym. It was also a bit difficult coming out of my comfort zone and working out with people who were mostly younger than me, and mostly all women. That did not make it easier, to be honest. I just put it out of my mind.

I know why I am there – to better myself and take care of my body that is not getting any younger. I thrive on challenge and what better place to be challenged than a gym full of younger, very athletic people?

I wanted to be just as quick, just as strong, just as agile as many of the younger athletic people that worked out there. If not equal, I wanted to be damn close! I would say I am getting there.

What are a few of your favorite exercises? How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to train?

I like to workout the things that need it the most, even though that’s not always the most fun way to train.

I have chicken legs, so I like to do squats. I need them the most, and that is were I feel my biggest and fastest gains have happened.

Like most guys, I would be happy as a tornado in a trailer park just to work out upper body all the time, but that is not what I really need. I also like how FF focuses on core exercises, those are what you use in the real world the most. FF is very good at equal promotional muscle group building.

What accomplishments in the past 6 months are you most proud of and why?

Over the last 6 months, I am in far better shape than I’ve been in a long time. My job is very physical, but we lose muscle mass and strength as we get older. My body has to be in very good shape to do the kind of work I do. To provide for me and my kids is very important.

Sure, I may look like I am in my early 50’s, but I don’t feel like it. Now my chicken legs are able to Trap Bar Deadlift 290 lbs for 6 reps, and I feel I can build up from there quite easily.

Any new goals for 2018? Please share.

I would like to make it back into The Dome in the mornings to practice my mile run. Three years ago, I rant the mile in 6 minutes and 30 seconds. I would love to get back there and improve that mile time.

I feel I can do that because I was not running on a regular basis when I did the 6:30 mile, just doing my old Boot Camp. I also want to put on more lean muscle. I have been steadily increasing the amount of weight I have been lifting at small group.

My father worked out at the gym very regularly since he was about 40 years old, he stopped lifting weights at about 86 years old. Planet Fitness would give him his membership for free after he turn 80.

In his 40’s, he could do 35 pull ups with no problem. At 86 years old, he could still do 12 pull ups, and dumbbell press with 60 lbs dumbbells. He was never huge, but very fit. He was a bad ass in my eyes. So I want to hold up the same standard that he did, one that served him well. That is my long term goal!

]]>Mobility work: Embrace the suckhttp://figarellesfitness.com/mobility-work-embrace-suck/
Sun, 10 Dec 2017 18:11:57 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3723Every movement you do in a workout requires good mobility for proper execution. Proper execution means you go to full range of motion on everything- no half reps. There are two common things I’ve observed over the years in those who hit a wall with their progress. Getting beyond these two things are key if […]

]]>Every movement you do in a workout requires good mobility for proper execution. Proper execution means you go to full range of motion on everything- no half reps.

There are two common things I’ve observed over the years in those who hit a wall with their progress.

Getting beyond these two things are key if you want to change (this also helps make our job as coaches a lot easier):

1. Ego gets in the way.

Leave your Ego at the door. Do not bring it in to the gym. Ever.

If you want to improve something you’re not currently good at, you have to open your mind and embrace being a beginner. Sometimes you have to go back to basics even after months or years of thinking you’re an expert. I’ve had to do this many times with my own training.

You must be able to walk in to the gym and accept that at some point during your workout you’re going to suck at something.

Your Ego will get you injured, and it will coddle you so you avoid “failure” at all costs. Ego keeps us in the confines of our comfort zone.

I see this all the time when people don’t get low in a pushup or won’t come to full extension in the negative of a pull-up. Two exercises that are safe to bail out of if needed.

You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard for fear of what everyone else will think of you. Or for fear of what YOU will think of yourself.

You don’t want to look incapable or weak.

You’re afraid to struggle.

We ALL want to be good at something when we first try it, but that’s not reality. Those with the biggest Egos make the least amount of progress.

Accept that you will “fail” many times before you can master something. Those failures are valuable lessons, so pay attention.

2. Laziness.

Laziness is right up there with lack of consistency in terms of the things that will stall and sabotage progress. Don’t be lazy.

Mobility work is a perfect example.

It’s not as sexy as squatting 200 LB. It’s boring. It hurts. You don’t have time for it. On and on.

Your good mobility is often the reason WHY you can successfully execute a movement. If you can perform a movement with no pain, and bring it to a full range of motion with complete control, it’s apparent that you’ve built end range strength.

When you perform a barbell squat, do a pushup, bench press, or get on the pull-up bar, your weaknesses will be exposed.

99% of the time the weakness is lack of end range strength because you’ve not trained to full range of motion and you’ve neglected your mobility work.

Your hips and low back are so tight that you can’t drop below parallel in a squat.

Your t-spine and shoulders are so tight that you can’t get low in your pushups or perform a pull-up.

Your ankles and calves are so tight that you can’t jump without pain or perform a deep lunge or squat.

Easy fix.

Invest a few minutes every day foam rolling and stretching your whole body so you can get the full benefit of everything you do in the gym. Improving joint range of motion and building strength in end ranges takes time. You can’t cut corners. Leave you Ego at the door and do the hard stuff so you can get back to making progress.

]]>Stasi is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/stasi-months-ff-member-month/
Wed, 27 Sep 2017 13:09:02 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3693Hi Stasi! Please tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Alaska, my dad was stationed here for the military. I have been paralegal at Clayton & Diemer since 2004. I enjoy camping, fishing, road trips and hiking. What are a few of your favorite exercises that we do at Boot Camp? How about a few […]

I was born and raised in Alaska, my dad was stationed here for the military. I have been paralegal at Clayton & Diemer since 2004. I enjoy camping, fishing, road trips and hiking.

What are a few of your favorite exercises that we do at Boot Camp? How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to train?

I like skaters, lunges and squats, anything to help the legs and booty.

What do you admire most about yourself?

I appreciate everyone in my life and everything that I have.

Who or what inspires you?

My Mom who at 71 years old runs circles around me living and loving life. My boyfriend Trevor who jumps out of bed every morning at 5:00 a.m. to go to the gym or a new class.

My girlfriends who I have met through Figarelle’s Fitness over the years, especially Laurie and Amber who I keep in touch with everyday and we motivate each other to get to boot camp, hike or simply to stay active.

Last but not least, Stephanie and Charlene who captured my attention in 2010 and then Lela who joined the team soon after, have all kept me motivated and in shape over the years.

Optimal health, what does that mean to you?

Staying as mentally and physically healthy as I can. I work out just as much for my mental health as I do to stay physically fit.

In April 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer which was the last thing I expected since it doesn’t run in my family and I consider myself healthy.

Even though I was diagnosed (1 in 8 women will be), I decided to keep moving forward and never missed a beat. I had surgery and 33 radiation treatments and only missed one day of work and continued with my normal boot camp and gym schedule.

If I had not been mentally and physically fit I may not have rallied like I did.

What are a few of your favorite ways to relax and recover?

Massage! I also like to get outside away from the electronics.

Can you tell us about your nutrition? Any specific tips for putting together a good nutrition plan?

We meal plan, I don’t eat at restaurants very often and I’m good at not buying junk food at the store.

I eat a lot more meat now and find I am not constantly hungry during the day and needing to snack.

What new goals do you have planned for 2018?

I haven’t made any specific goals yet. I would like to workout with more weights, especially upper body and venture out to try different kinds of workouts.

]]>5 questions to ask when hiring a fitness coachhttp://figarellesfitness.com/5-questions-ask-hiring-fitness-coach/
Thu, 21 Sep 2017 18:34:08 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3690When hiring a fitness coach or starting a new program it’s important to understand what you’re going to get out of the experience. Take some time to ask yourself what’s most important to you. Do you prefer a male or female coach, or does it matter? Do you prefer to workout in a group, or […]

]]>When hiring a fitness coach or starting a new program it’s important to understand what you’re going to get out of the experience. Take some time to ask yourself what’s most important to you.

Do you prefer a male or female coach, or does it matter? Do you prefer to workout in a group, or one on one with a coach? Do you know what credentials your trainer has, or do you just care about the results they can get for you? Do you need help with fat loss, building strength or improving mobility? Is form correction, and feedback important to you?

When hiring a coach, don’t be afraid to interview them.

Here are 5 questions you should consider asking before committing to a program:

1. What certifications do you have?

I’ve been a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) since 2004. In the past 13 years, I’ve had one or two clients ask what certifications I held. Most clients don’t give two shits what piece of paper you have framed on your wall. They’ll likely only care about the results you can get for them.

If you are someone who cares about the education of the coach you’re trusting to help you get fit (and you should be), make sure you choose someone who holds at least one personal training certification from an accredited agency. These certifications are the gold standard in the industry; ACSM, ACE, NASM, and NSCA.

Bonus certifications: Precision Nutrition level 1 & 2, CFSF (Mike Boyle’s certified functional strength coach cert), Training for Warriors level 1 & 2, and FMS certifications. These certs make for a pretty well-rounded coach who you can trust is up on everything in the industry.

2. What was the last seminar you attended?

When hiring a coach, it’s important to know how often they attend fitness seminars and what kind of courses they take on a regular basis. In order to remain certified, a coach has to keep their continuing education credits up to date. Most accredited certifications require a coach to re-certify every two years, and they need to accrue a certain amount of CEU’s.

The fitness industry changes every few months, and staying up on the latest trends and research is important. A coach should attend at least two hands-on seminars per year, otherwise they risk falling way behind on what’s relevant.

Bonus questions: What’s the next seminar you’re going to attend, and what book(s) are you currently reading?

3. What kind of results can you get me?

This is obviously an important question to ask. Have them share testimonials with you, and talk to other clients who have achieved similar goals to yours. Have them explain the system they use to help their clients get the results they want so you understand what’s expected of you.

Do they assist with goal setting?

How will they hold you accountable?

Can they show you ‘before and after’ photos? Not everyone is interested in a body transformation goal, but if you are, ask to see proof a coach or a program can help you. Ask as many questions as you can to get a better understanding of how they can support your needs.

4. How can we communicate?

If you need help with something, ask your coach what’s the best way to ask questions.

Can you call or email them anytime? Can you text them? Do they make themselves available to you before and after workouts to go over form, and to offer advice on your aching knee?

Communication is key to a solid relationship and everyone’s communication style is different. Make sure you feel comfortable asking your coach for anything you need.

5. How will my progress be measured?

Progress makes us happy. Most people will agree that seeing improvements in their performance, and in their body composition is important to them. Without progress, it’s tough to stay committed to a program.

So, how will progress be measured? Can the coach take your body fat measurements with calipers, or do they prefer you take photos to track your progress?

Does the coach do any kind of physical testing to asses your current abilities? Ask how your progress will be tracked and measured.

Much like anything in life, it takes time to experiment with different things to find what fits best. Your health should be your number one priority in life because without it, nothing else matters. Invest in your health, it’s always worth it.

Who you choose to help you get and stay fit has a big responsibility to ensure you have the best possible experience. It’s important for you to ask the right questions, and to find a coach or a training program that delivers exactly what you need to reach all of your goals.

]]>Mags is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/mags-months-ff-member-month/
Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:49:50 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3645Hi Mags! Please tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in the UK and emigrated to the US at the age of 26 to study American history. I was a college professor for five years before changing careers and going to law school. I now work for the State of Alaska at the […]

I was born and raised in the UK and emigrated to the US at the age of 26 to study American history.

I was a college professor for five years before changing careers and going to law school. I now work for the State of Alaska at the Department of Law, which is a fabulous place to work.

I literally never wake up in the morning wishing that I didn’t have to go to work. Unless it’s fishing season and the weather is great, in which case I want to be fishing!

How long have you worked with FF, and what initially inspired you to start working with us?

I started at FF three years ago. Because of Holly Spoth-Torres. She rocks and persuaded me to try boot camp and the rest is history.

What are a few things you’re most proud of accomplishing in the past year?

I spent the first part of the year really focusing on nutrition and getting that in order and that has really helped me to get into the kind of shape that I want to be in.

And I caught fish from my kayak, which I’m really proud of.

Who or what inspires you?

I have a lot of wonderful friends who like to do crazy things in the outdoors and they inspire me to get outside and enjoy Alaska. And I have great colleagues at work who encourage me to be the best lawyer I can be.

You’ve made a lot of progress lately. How has your nutrition changed over the past year?

At the start of the year, I began reporting weekly to Steph and tracking macros very carefully. It really works. It’s been harder to maintain the tracking over the summer because it’s not really possible to be accurate with macros unless you’re making most of your own food and all the weekends away from home definitely make nutrition a challenge.

But the lessons of the early tracking have helped me make generally good decisions even when I’m not able to make all my meals and that has helped me avoid too much backsliding.

What are a few of your favorite exercises? How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to train?

I really like the slide board — so much fun. And dead lifts. I like working legs, because that makes me feel strong.

Optimal health, what does that mean to you?

It means being able to say “yes” when people ask me if I want to engage in some outdoor adventure.

What are some of your favorite ways to rest and recover?

Hot tubs and massages.

What advice would you give someone looking for ways to motivate themselves to start or maintain a fitness program?

Start with short-term achievable goals. Success begets success.

I’ve found process-focused goals work better for me than results-focused goals. So instead of setting a goal of losing 10 LB or completing a particular event—goals that can be derailed by the mysteries of body chemistry or by injury or bad weather or whatever—I’ve been most successful with goals like lifting three times a week, or tracking my macros, because those things are more within my control.

Even if I don’t lose all the weight I want to, or complete the race I signed up for, having met my process goals still produces meaningful rewards. The other thing I’d say is don’t plan to accomplish your goals by doing things you don’t like to do, because that’s a recipe for failure. Getting fit, being fit needs to be fun otherwise it’s just work, and very few of us need yet another job in our lives.

I know you’re super ambitious! What new goals do you have planned for 2018?

Wow, 2018 still feels like a long way off. I don’t have really specific or “big” goals; at least not yet. Over the winter, I’d like to go back to tracking macros to see if I can lean up just a little more.

I want to ride my fat bike more than I’ve done the last few years. I’m thinking about picking a few specific weight lifting exercises to focus on getting stronger/better at. That’s a work in progress right now, but then that’s how goals work best for me.

]]>Hilary is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/3640-2/
Mon, 17 Jul 2017 19:05:13 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3640Hey Hilary! Please tell us about yourself. Hey everyone! For those of you that don’t know me I’m Hilary and I am pretty much a lifelong Alaskan. I moved here when I was 6, but was originally born in Michigan. I have moved away from Alaska a few times in my life, but keep finding […]

Hey everyone! For those of you that don’t know me I’m Hilary and I am pretty much a lifelong Alaskan. I moved here when I was 6, but was originally born in Michigan.

I have moved away from Alaska a few times in my life, but keep finding my way back. I tried out living in Oregon, Utah, and Colorado, but it didn’t stick.

I came back to AK full-time in 2012 after reuniting with an old boyfriend, Michael. We got married 4 years after that (last summer) and are expecting our first child any day now!

I am a teacher with the Anchorage School District and I work with preschool students ages 2 years 10 months through 5 years who have special needs. It’s the most challenging and rewarding job I have had yet, although I hear that being a parent may rival it.

I have done more mountain biking than hiking in the past few years because my husband is really passionate about flying down mountains as fast as humanly possible on two wheels – it’s hard to get him for a hiking partner because hiking is just “too slow”.

So I gave in and we have been on some pretty epic mountain bike trips over the past few years around South Central Alaska and in New Mexico. My husband and I just purchased an awesome VW Vanagon camping van so we are psyched about using it to explore and enjoy more of Alaska once the baby comes!

I also love to travel and have been on some amazing trips around the world, although returning to Alaska and getting an adult job has really cramped my style over the last few years.

I am a total beach-bum and have had the opportunity to visit and scuba dive in places like Thailand, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico. I LOVE scuba diving, it’s one of the most relaxing and amazing things I have ever done! Everyone should give it a try if you can!

How long have you been working with FF and what classes do you typically attend during the week?

I started coming to FF in November of 2014. I remember being really intimidated the first time I can, especially since I was pretty much lost on my way there and felt like I was walking in to a secret club in a warehouse! But I started coming regularly and felt very welcomed and encouraged by everyone right away.

I have been coming to Charlene’s morning classes consistently over the last 3-ish years, as well as Saturday mornings and then whatever evening classes during the week that I might be able to fit in.

What are a few of your favorite exercises that we do during a workout?

I like using the TRX and most dumbbell exercises. I like the TRX because it’s so versatile and you can change the intensity of your exercise just by taking a step forward or backward.

Dumbbells are also one of my favorites because it can be such an easy measurement of growing strength. It’s exciting and encouraging when you challenge yourself (or are challenged by Steph/Lela/Charlene…) to pick up a heavier set of weights and can do the exercise.

What kind of an impact has fitness had on your life over the years?

I have always been an athlete and grew up playing soccer competitively in Alaska and in college. After college I continued to use soccer as my primary mode of working out and then gradually got in to running and swimming as a way to cross train. I didn’t really start lifting weights until a few years before coming to FF, but once I started I knew I wanted to stick with it.

As a soccer player, I had always been all leg strength and felt like my arms were kind of worthless. In 2010 I took a summer job working up in Denali Park as a river rafting guide and knew I needed to start beefing up my arm strength before the job started. I began going to a weight lifting class to prepare and just loved the way it felt to be soooo sore and tired after the classes.

Most people would probably disagree that not being able to lift your arms or having to lower yourself down on to your chair or the toilet while holding on to something is a good feeling, but my bet is that most of you FF people are in the same boat as me

It was a very real reflection of how hard I was pushing myself, how much farther I had to go, and it reminded me of my competitive sports days and that feeling of exertion that I had been missing.

In 2014 I tore my ACL and meniscus playing soccer and felt like I had lost a huge part of myself and my active routines. I tried going back to soccer after I recovered but decided that I didn’t want to risk injuring myself again and losing my ability to do all the other things I love.

Six months after my knee surgery is when I started coming to FF in search of another routine to replace soccer and I absolutely feel like I found a great replacement that still challenges me, keeps me on my toes, and has led to meeting some pretty great people and making new friends!

Exercise, in whatever form it might take in my day – bootcamp, running, swimming, biking – has become such a part of my everyday life that if I don’t fit it in I feel weird and kind of guilty.

I love starting my day with a good sweat session to power me through the rest of the day! I think that setting up these routines and really engraining exercise as part of your lifestyle is one of the most important things that you can do for yourself to set yourself up for long-term success and health.

Who or what inspires you, and why?

There are a lot of people in my life who inspire me to challenge myself and pursue the things that I want. One of these people is my husband, Michael. He has always been a person that sets really ambitious goals for himself, and usually achieves them.

Things haven’t always been easy for him but he has figured out his way in the world on his own and continues to impress me with the opportunities he makes for himself and now for our growing family. His most recent endeavor is a 100-mile backcountry mountain bike race at the beginning of August, wish him luck!

My mom is another constant inspiration in my life, and it’s reflected in how much I see myself turning in to her as I get older (ahh scary)!

She has inspired me to follow the career path that I have taken, and has also helped me over the years to develop the healthy lifestyle that I have. She has always encouraged my sisters and I to be active and she leads by example – in her sixties she is still an energizer bunny, running 1/2 marathons, biking 30 miles at a time, and pumping weights.

What is your favorite “cheat” food or meal?

Oh man, I could make a list a mile long here… I’m a total cliche and would say pizza and ice cream. I would love to call it a cheat, but does it count as cheating if you eat it all the time?!

The second half of my pregnancy has been a non-stop ice cream party for me, especially since summer hit. I have been frequenting Wild Scoops A LOT, so much that they recognize me when I come in. If you haven’t been there yet, you need to go, it’s amazing. I also started making my own ice cream at home. There is no denying there’s a pregnant lady living here!

You’re almost 9 months pregnant and you’re still kicking ass at Boot Camp. What keeps you going on the toughest days?

Well, anyone that knows me well knows that I am “slightly” competitive. And by slightly, I mean really, really competitive. Usually it’s with myself, but it’s also with all of you guys that I work out with every time at bootcamp, whether you are in on the competition or not.

When I found out I was pregnant, I was obviously happy and also freaking terrified, but I immediately started thinking about what it meant for me as far as working out and all of the routines I had been lining up over the past years. I was about in the best shape of my life about 9 months ago, so it was really hard for me to accept that I was going to start seeing some of my hard work slip away – I think that has been the hardest part of being pregnant for me.

I told myself that as long as I felt good, and as long as my midwives gave me the go ahead, that I would just continue to do what I’ve been doing! So, I just pushed on, and mentally refused to talk myself out of my normal routines, even though I was more tired than usual and some workouts just felt like the most unenjoyable thing I had ever done.

Also, shout out to Genevieve and Bonnie – during the early days of being pregnant, before I looked pregnant or anyone else knew, I was always checking out you bad-asses rocking your bellies at the morning workouts, scouting out my near future! Thanks to you both for showing me that it was all going to be okay and that I was going to be able to keep making bootcamp work even in the final stretches of making a baby!

What advice would you give to women who want to continue working out through their pregnancy?

Do what feels good for you. Everyone’s experience is different and everyone will feel up to different levels of activity. Listen to your body, but also listen to your trainers and your doctors, especially if you are like me and have a hard time relaxing and taking it easy.

I have definitely needed Charlene to put me in check a few times and cut me off from doing some exercises! Staying fit and active through being pregnant is super important for you and your baby, but so is taking it easy and preparing mentally and physically for the tough days ahead.

How has your nutrition evolved over the years, and especially now in your 9th month of pregnancy?

I’ve never been a total health nut or a total slob, but I definitely enjoy my burgers and fries as much as the next person. Participating in a few of the FF Transformation Challenges over the last 2 years and using Myfitnesspal to track calories and macros has been really eye opening and helpful in regards to nutrition and getting a better idea of what exactly I was putting in to my body, especially in regards to “healthy” foods. I don’t usually track calories or macros outside of the Transformation Challenges, but I have found that I don’t necessarily need to now that I know more about what I am eating.

For the most part, I eat what I want (in moderation…sometimes….) and I make sure that I follow my exercise routines and somehow my pants continue to fit.

Pregnancy definitely has thrown a curve ball in my nutrition habits, but I am trying to cut myself some slack, especially at the end here. I have continued to eat pretty healthy about 90% of the time, but I do have an ice cream obsession that cannot be stopped at this point.

I haven’t had any weird cravings or anything like that, but generally just feel less inclined to exercise my willpower over things that I love that I normally say “no” to. I feel that as long as I am continuing to be physically active that having a daily ice cream experience has been well earned.

What goals are you focused on for the remainder of 2017, and why are these so important to you?

I’ve thought a lot about what the rest of this year may look like once the baby gets here! I am trying to stick with pretty loose/general goals because I just have NO idea what the next few months are going to look like! In my mind I see myself getting back to my personal routines a lot sooner than what I think may be realistic.

Overall, I just want to make sure that I make time to be physically active as soon as I can after having the baby, even if that just means going for lots of walks. I have heard from a lot of moms returning to more intense exercise after having a baby that it really feels like starting at the beginning.

Although this sounds kind of demoralizing and super hard, I am trying to stay positive and look at it as a challenge instead. The nice thing will be seeing lots of progress, both visual and in the way I feel during exercising! I also want to use it as an opportunity to retrain my body to do some things better, especially push-ups and pull-ups.

My goals of getting back in to shape and remaining physically active postpartum are important to me for a few reasons – the first is simply so that I feel good and feel like myself again. But another thing that is really important to me is passing on my passion for leading an active and healthy lifestyle to my child.

I want her to be raised in a family where exercise, no matter what form it takes, is a lifestyle and not a chore. I want to expose her to many active opportunities so that she can eventually figure out what she is passionate about and make it part of her everyday routine and habit.

My ENTIRE family (with the exception of one cousin) lives in Anchorage. MimiBob (Grandma) will turn 95 in July! I’m planning to live to 112, hence my commitment to lifelong fitness.

I consider myself insanely lucky to live in such a beautiful place, surrounded by amazing friends and family, running a business I’m passionate about, all with a pretty cool guy by my side (and I do mean my husband, not the dog).

My life really boils down to spending time in meaningful ways, or doing my best to. I want the conversations I have with people, the money I spend, the trips I take, the clients I help, the runs I do, the books I read, the energy I expend, I want it to mean something.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I strive for a purpose-driven life. I am intentional with my time because it’s the one resource we can never get back. It is precious.

I apply this philosophy in the work I do – encouraging people to live unique and wonderful lives. The hopes and dreams are up to them, I simply help with the money side of the equation (pun intended). I spend roughly 1/3 of my time doing this and the rest is friends/family or fitness related! It doesn’t take much for me to be happy.

I know how much you love to read. What book are you currently reading?

I wouldn’t say I love to read, but I do love learning and reading is a decent way to do that. I usually have a couple books going..one fun and one work. I’m currently reading “Secrets of Six-Figure Women” by Barbara Stanny. I guess it counts as work AND fun! I would recommend this book to all women, not just entrepreneurs.

At the risk of getting on a soap box, women undervalue themselves professionally (personally too I would say). This book is about knowing your worth, pairing that with your passion and not apologizing for becoming successful. It’s inspiring to learn from the journeys of other women and see how fulfilled they are. I hope that Steph, Lela and Charlene will be featured in the second edition.

How long have you been attending FF, and what initially motivated you to seek us out?

Over 2.5 years now, which is longer than I’ve been married! Charlene can keep me honest on this, but I’m pretty sure I’ve only missed two 6 am workouts since joining (one sick day and one sleep in day).

I was committed from day one. My initial motivation came from missing ski team workouts, specifically high intensity combined with strength training. I missed the feeling of sore muscles and sweat dripping down my face. I also missed the confidence that being strong gives you! It’s empowering!

I had absolutely NO idea how integral this gym would become to my life. It’s unreal and truly a gift that keeps on giving.

What are a few of your favorite exercises that we do at Boot Camp?

Oh man, I do love a good hurricane. Does everyone say that?? I always feel so much energy when we do them! It’s a winning combination of camaraderie with your line and motivation from everyone you’re doing the same exercise as. I

‘m also not opposed to an entire hour of Tabata! I go into a workout trance partway through and when it’s over I don’t remember what happened. Basically I black out.

Why is fitness such an important part of your life? What do you enjoy most about being active?

Fitness is an essential part of overall well being and you simply can’t have too much health. I spent too many years being unhealthy and I refuse to live my life that way.

The more I take care of myself, the better wife I can be, the better friend, the better sister, the better advisor, the better teacher, everything. Show up FULLY for life and show up FULLY for others.

For me, part of being active is being fearless. When I’m fit and taking good care of my body, I’m not afraid to try a difficult hike or a new sport or to run a marathon. I trust that my body is prepared to handle it and being in shape means I’ll enjoy it that much more.

Staying fit and being active means I can see parts of this world that most people can’t. I can walk along the Great Wall for miles (haven’t yet) or swim in the Great Barrier Reef (haven’t yet) for hours. I never want to be limited in what I can do or see!

You do a lot of volunteer work with the Girls on the Run organization. Can you tell us more about this program and why it’s so special to you?

Well, I was only partially involved with GOTR this year, but it was a blast! Hilary invited me to join her GOTR team at Bowman (where I was the only coach who didn’t also teach at the school).

I deeply believe in their core concept – building confidence in girls through meaningful dialogue and RUNNING!!!! This non-profit works with 3rd – 5th grade girls all over the country and they have a separate program for middle school girls. What’s not to love about teaching the next generation of girls about mental and physical health? Call me a feminist, but I’m all for programs, activities and organizations that focus on setting girls up for success, both short and long term. GIRL POWER!

Who or what inspires you?

Generally, people who are happy.

Specifically, Oprah…I think she’s finally happy.

Honestly, I try to surround myself with people who inspire me. My 95 year old grandmother – she can do the New York Times crossword. My mom – she runs the health department for this whole city AND is raising two teenagers that aren’t biologically hers. My friend Molly Brenner – she isn’t from Alaska, but she’s insanely involved in this community! Tim Ferriss – I don’t know him personally, but his voice often lulls me to sleep. He has dedicated his life to learning from others and has a lot to share. Doug Carter – he’s a personal and professional coach of mine who travels the world training people and organizations how to better serve their clients. His approach is intuitive, genuine and extremely goal-oriented.

Running seems like it’s a big part of your life, what races do you have coming up that you’re most excited for and why?

Running IS a big part of my life! It’s really the only “sport” I’m good at. Funny you should ask this because I made a conscious decision NOT to do many races this summer, however, that hasn’t worked out thus far.

I PR’d in both the Gold Nugget and the women’s run this year, which I am excited about! FF certainly has something to do with that : )

I’m excited to be part of such an awesome group and to help Sabrina find a cure for CF. I’m emotionally invested.

You participated in the FF Winter Transformation Challenge and did very well. What are a few things you learned from that experience and how have you applied those changes to your post-Challenge life?

You mean aside from the fact that JMac is amazing?!?!

Challenges are all about bringing awareness to specific areas of your life, which is SO necessary. I always knew I preferred a simple life, but purging things from my house reinforced the idea that less is more (at least when it comes to material possessions). I am allowing myself this entire year to purge and simplify. If I didn’t give myself that amount of time, it would be easy to get overwhelmed. With each item I give away, I am a little bit more free.

What else…I’m still pretty aware of my sugar intake. It’s hard for me to stomach certain things now because they’re just too sweet – that’s how I know I’m making progress! I haven’t thrown away my scale yet, but it’s advisable. Nothing F***S with my head more than boys and scales…throw them BOTH out!

What new goals are you working toward for the remainder of 2017?

It’s really just one BHAG – getting my CFP. That stands for Certified Financial Planner and it’s basically a master’s degree in financial planning. It’s a 21-month program and I am shooting to finish in 12. The national exam is only offered three times a year so be thinking of me July 2018!

Thanks for reading! I consider all of you inspirational friends. Come get a hug whenever you need one or for no reason at all. I’m here to share the love ~

]]>Carly is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/carly-months-ff-member-month/
Sat, 20 May 2017 20:18:15 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3627Hi Carly! Please introduce yourself. I am 34 years old was and was born and raised in Alaska. I have a twin sister, Jeni, and an older brother, Wes. We have a big family in Alaska so I got to grow up with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents around all the time. We all continue […]

I am 34 years old was and was born and raised in Alaska. I have a twin sister, Jeni, and an older brother, Wes. We have a big family in Alaska so I got to grow up with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents around all the time. We all continue to get together with our growing families.

I am a Licensed Master Social Worker currently working in the Anchorage School District through an on-line program called iSchool. I got my Undergraduate from Eastern Washington, and my Masters at UAA.

I have worked with children and youth for over 10 years as an Advocator, Counselor, and Clinician in many different settings. I love jobs that allow me to support youth as they overcome the obstacles of life. I enjoy helping Youth see how they contribute to their situations and motivate them to move in a positive direction regardless of what hand life has dealt them.

How long have you been working with FF, and what initially motivated you to seek us out?

I have been working out with Figarelle Fitness since 2011. My sister-in-law started working out with you and she thought that with my competitive spirit I would love the workouts. Was she right!!

Finding you guys really came at a good time in my life. I was a year or so past my last back surgery and I hadn’t really found my niche when it came to working out. I had had three back surgeries in three years, with my last one being a fusion in my lower back.

I still had pain and was looking for something to “fix” it. I went down to Seattle and talked to a doctor. He told me, “this is the new you, your back will never go back to where it was and you need to realize that. You need to listen to your body.”

After crying for two hours in his office I knew I needed to pick myself up and move forward. I stopped playing soccer, which was my love. I grew up playing soccer, I was the top 30 in the whole West Coast in high school, I played Division II and Division I soccer and was a starter. My life was soccer, to say the least.

I was an athlete and that was how I defined myself. How was I supposed to stop playing the game I loved and still be happy with myself? So, I started running a little and doing some other workouts, but it didn’t give me the feeling I was looking for.

After my first boot camp with Figarelle’s Fitness I was hooked!! I was sweating like I hadn’t in a long time. It gave me the opportunity to be competitive with myself and push, I was doing exercises that I would never do on my own.

It took me a couple of months to build up enough strength in my core that I could do most things the way I wanted to do them, but that was okay I was improving, becoming stronger and was loosing some of that nerve pain that I thought would never go away.

Today I still love working out with Figarelle’s Fitness. I look forward to them every week. It is something I schedule during my week and I never cancel, unless I’m sick. Even on the days that I am tired and don’t feel like going, I leave there feeling accomplished, strong, and full of energy.

I still have back pain every day that moves from my back down the left side of my leg to my foot. I wake up every morning limping a little bit, some days more then others. But I deal with it because I remember how bad it was before my surgeries when I couldn’t even walk and I was pretty much pulling my leg behind me.

Constant pain makes your brain go to the “dark side,” I have been there before, but I am strong enough now I don’t let it get me down. I just feel blessed I can do what I can do. I can run, I can workout, and do pretty much everything I want. Life is too short to dwell on the things I can’t do, I feel like I am pretty lucky and blessed in so many ways; I choose to concentrate on those things!

What are a few of your favorite exercises that we do at Boot Camp? How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to work?

I am very competitive, so of course I like any exercise I can be competitive with myself. I love white board workouts with just your body weight because it allows you to go your own pace and push yourself to the max. I like when there are exercises that work your muscles, but also are a good cardiovascular workout. Hurricanes and ladders… anything where we move across the floor are workouts I always like.

Growing up as a soccer player, I always had strong legs, so anything where we use our legs I love. Boot camp makes me use my upper body that are not so strong too, so I also really appreciate that!

You’re currently pregnant with your second baby. What tips do you have for moms who want to continue working out while pregnant?

Working out when you are pregnant is different, but I think it is so important. In your first trimester when you are at an exhaustion level you have never felt before and just thinking of food makes you want to vomit, working out is the last thing you want to do. But it helps so much when you do! It gives you energy you didn’t think you would ever find and it makes you hungry, which is really important.

Be kind to yourself. Your body is changing in so many different ways and you are making a baby, which is amazing!! Do what you can to workout, but if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. You won’t be able to do everything you could before with the same amount of weight or as fast and that is okay.

Just like movement is important when you aren’t pregnant, it is just as important when you are pregnant…it just may look a little different. So get out there and move your body, your body will thank you afterwards.

You have inspired quite a few of your friends and family members to join you at Boot Camp over the years. What’s it like to workout with them? Do you guys keep each other motivated?

I love working out with my friends and family. No matter what shape they are in, I know they will love boot camp and they always do.

I want the people I love to be happy and healthy for as long as they can, so we can continue on this journey of life together! I also think that working out with people that you are close with, gives you motivation to show up and workout hard. Then there is always that level of competition that I love and think a little bit of competition is healthy, right?!

You’re a pretty avid runner. What do you enjoy most about running?

I love running!! I grew up with a big family in Anchorage who are all are good athletes with a healthy dose of a competitive spirit in them. I ran my first race when I was 6 and we always ran as a family. My entire family would run in the Heart Run and The Women’s Run every year.

Once I started high school I ran to keep in shape for soccer. I didn’t have the love for running then, but knew I needed to do it to stay in shape and I also happened to be good at it. I was in the top 10 runners in the State in High School, but that only lasted for a couple of years because again my love was soccer. I ran all through college and after I started to love it more and more. I didn’t play soccer any more, so running was how I pushed myself.

Now running for me is like a counseling session. I don’t run super fast any more, but I can run and I find happiness in that. Whatever was bugging me before I started to run is always gone and I finish my runs with a clear head. And clearly I am really smart when I run because I solve all my problems that ever existed, or maybe things that felt like big problems, no longer do. Either way running allows me to get out and push myself or just get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery around me.

Every summer you leave Anchorage to run a camp for kids. Can you tell us more about this, and why it’s so important to you?

I have always enjoyed working with “tough” kids who have been through a lot in their life. After college I was working at a Residential Treatment Center and I came up with the idea of having a Youth Camp in Alaska. I think the outdoors is such a great place to really reflect on life and take a deeper look into yourself. Also, there are so many kids that live in Alaska that never get outside into the woods and get to experience all the things that Alaska has to offer and I find that so sad.

When I met my husband we actually talked about this on our first date. I told him about my dream of starting a Youth Camp and although he didn’t have the exact dream, he knew he wanted to help people in some capacity.

Once we got married, we put our strengths together and started to come up with some ideas of what our Youth Camp would look like. It also helped that his parents own Rainy Pass Lodge, which is the oldest hunting lodge in Alaska. It is about 125 air miles southwest of Anchorage in a small bush plane.

We came up with an outline, talked to his parents about it, and they said they would support our efforts to start a Youth Camp at the Lodge. We started a non-profit to make it possible for anyone to come to our Camp. Because it is super remote, the costs are very high, but we wanted to make this opportunity available to everyone.

We have partnered with several schools and programs in the Anchorage School District to help us identify kids that would benefit from our Camp. We also work with a couple of Charter Schools in the States. Our camp is called Camp Iron Sights and it is a Camp for At Risk young men ages 14-19 years old that focuses on personalized self-growth while providing a true Alaskan Wilderness Experience.

They get to experience all the Alaskan activities of canoeing, hiking, riding horses, partnered with different activities that help push them to look deeper into themselves to work through any bumps that may be hindering their growth as they move into adulthood.

A lot of the youth we work with have pretty sad stories, so we become an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and someone who supports and believes in them. We also started a program with our Board Members where we stay connected with the Youth and offer support as they leave the Camp and enter into adulthood.

What are you most looking forward to doing after you have baby number two?

I am super excited to have a girl! Even though working in a high school has me nervous about raising a girl in her high school years, but I have time to get ready for that.

I am really excited about growing our family, nothing is more precious then seeing siblings interact and love on each other.

What new goals do you have in store for the rest of 2017?

My first goal is to continue to stay active until the end of this pregnancy. Then my main goal is to find my new balance in life as I juggle two kids under two years old.

After my first pregnancy I trained for a half marathon and ran it 5 months after my son was born. This time, I would like to run a relay marathon through wine country with my friends and family.

Having something, and someone, to push you to get out the door and get moving while functioning on broken sleep really helps you stay motivated and helps to get back in shape. I would like to turn this race into another one of my accompishments.

]]>Travis is this month’s FF member of the month!http://figarellesfitness.com/travis-months-ff-member-month/
Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:22:39 +0000http://figarellesfitness.com/?p=3622Hi Travis! Please introduce yourself. My name is Travis Milan, I was born 08/08/1988 in Anchorage, AK. Interesting fact, I’ve met 2 people who were born on the same exact day. One I went to high school with and the other I discovered while I was in Baltimore, MD. Growing up in Alaska was great, […]

My name is Travis Milan, I was born 08/08/1988 in Anchorage, AK. Interesting fact, I’ve met 2 people who were born on the same exact day. One I went to high school with and the other I discovered while I was in Baltimore, MD.

Growing up in Alaska was great, my dad was really into the outdoors and dragged me out with him, which I probably showed great resentment towards, but I really appreciated it later in life.

My mom is an east coast transplant, that’s where I get a lot of my character from. I have an older sibling, Sean. He paved the way for me (shoutout to all my other younger siblings who know what I’m talking about).

I’m a DJ (Desk Jockey) for a local company called GCI. You may have heard of them… I work in a tier II support department. Sometimes I question if I’m suppose to be providing support for my actual job or if I should be providing emotional support. Never a dull moment to say the least.

I pretend I know what I’m doing with a 35mm camera. I like the authenticity and nostalgia of 35mm photos.

I’ve been known to wear a few futbol (soccer) jerseys. Futbol usually catches my attention from Sunday to Sunday. I built a road bicycle piece by piece a few summers ago and I commute as much as possible. I’ve always had junkers or borrowed bicycles, I had a great opportunity to build one and make it my own, though at times I miss the junker bicycles.

Who or what inspires you?

I get inspired by the dudes in the gym maxing out with horrible form and grunting like they are in delivery. This inspires me to not be like that.

I get inspired by all the great personalities that walk through FF’s door. There is a common goal and boot campers are working together to get there.

I appreciate the niche community I humbly get to be apart of and all the great things that are being done to give back. Positive people inspire me, that should be a given.

My wife is a huge inspiration. She has more strength and courage than I do and couldn’t be more thankful to have her in my life.

This recent Transformation Challenge was a ‘buddy Challenge’ where you worked closely with your wife, Ashley, for 8 weeks. What are a few ways you showed support to one another?

I try and show love and support and have her meals ready for her or almost up to completion, so when she got home from work her food was ready. During a challenge, typically you are in a caloric deficit (I am at least), and food is your livelihood. This can be a day changer. We also help each other out in the gym to remain safe.

One of Ash’s goal was to back squat 200lbs. That’s a lot of weight, you just don’t walk up and grab that. Making sure her form is good and that we both stretch. It’s easy to forget the subtle things.

Any success tips you can offer to couples who want to get fit together?

You have to be empathetic and put yourself out there. Try not to be afraid to show your vulnerabilities. Everyone is wired differently, I get it. But, ego is the biggest setback. You can’t force someone to change if they don’t want to and that is okay to an extent. As long as you aren’t creating friction for the other half while they are aspire to something else.

I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first. But, I warmed up to it really quickly. Ash had made amazing headway on her journey in a short amount of time. I could tell this wasn’t a short term gain, I could see her passion and enthusiasm for it.

As a couple, I want a healthy mental and physical relationship with her. This allows us to spend more time together building, learning, and growing with each other.

Throw away your ego.

What were your three goals at the start of the Challenge, and why were they so important to you?

My first goal was to trim 1.5” off of the waist. Picked up a few extra LBS after the wedding and honey moon. Trying to build muscle and lose fat are very important to me! It’s hard to do, there is no such thing as easy when it comes to it. It takes focus and dedication.

Second goal, originally, was 10 dead hang pull ups. But, I was convinced (thanks Steph) to bring it up to 12 reps. Dead hang pull ups are hard as shit. At the beginning I could only do 4 dead hang pull ups with good form.

I felt that this would be a good challenge. This would require a lot of strength building. I was right, at the mid way point of the challenge, I kept thinking to myself “shit, I’m getting kinda nervous I may not make this goal.”

Letting myself down, was okay, but, I couldn’t let my buddy down. You can only do so much practicing of the actual dead hang pull up because they are exhausting. It was such a bummer to knock out 10 and have no strength left. “Let me give it a break, let my body breathe for a few minutes and give it another whack,” thinking to myself.

10 reps turned into 7 and this just piled on more “oh fucks.” But, I kept plugging away at it and finally it happened, it seemed surreal. Was that it? Did I miscount? Filled with joy, mainly because my buddy wasn’t going to be left hanging! The guilt I would have felt if I didn’t complete that goal would have sunk me.

I know Ash would forgive me … I think. The 3rd goal was a buddy goal and we wanted to try something new outside of the gym, like take a yoga class or a cycling class, stuff we wouldn’t normally do; rock climbing, swimming, etc. We even went for a jog around the neighborhood.

We’re not ones to just go for a jog. You might see Bigfoot before you see us. Stuff that wasn’t all about throwing weights around. Our buddy goal was awesome.

You achieved all three of your goals. What kind of plan did you set up in order to be successful with each one?

Our plan was start strong and finish strong. The buddy aspect really enforces the idea of accountability. The guilt of letting someone else down is the worst!

We have a pretty tight schedule, so any real hiccups could have thrown off the flow a bit, as we learned. We planned out our weeks ahead of time. That was really helpful. We knew we had to book things in advance.

Sleeping in one day because you didn’t want to get up or not preparing your food. Not stretching properly and hurting yourself. These would have been real game changers. We both had goals that required more strength than we had starting this. We both just tried to keep on top of each other and stay sharp from start to finish.

What accomplishment are you most proud of right now?

I wouldn’t really call it an accomplishment, but turning “working out” into an actual lifestyle. Going from a few times a month to feeling weird if I were to miss two times in a week. I’m my own worst enemy and critic.

Sometimes I think to myself, “Shit, I should be seeing more results.” But, I’m really happy with where I’m at and how far I’ve come. I’m seeing progress and not regression.

It’s a constant evolution with body and mind. I’m learning so much and this keeps the curiosity going.

What new goal(s) do you have in store for 2017?

I want to focus on mobility. I refer to it as “The Milan” curse. Ancient history shows we are the stiffest and least flexible people. Pair that with a 10 hour day in the office.

I’m envious of Ash. Not trying to throw her under the bus, but we will workout and she will stretch for 60-90 secs, workout harder than me, no post-workout stretching and her mobility is far superior. I’m over here in serious distress feeling like my hips are going to break apart like a lucky wishbone on Thanksgiving.

Don’t get me wrong, I stretch a lot. I just need to add some tools into my repertoire.

It’s hard to name a specific goal because I don’t know what I want to achieve out of this besides mobility. I would like to educate myself on how to diagnosis issues within my body.

I’m bad at setting goals because I get into this mindset that goals need to be colossal and I’m scared of defeat, so it creates this monster. I need to set a goal to learn how to set goals? I forget that small goals are steps to the bigger picture.

I want to say thank you to the FF fam (Charlene, Steph, and Lela) y’all are the real MVP’s.